I'm a post-World War II Baby-Boomer, part of the generation which was expected to embrace Feminism as the perfect rebellion. None if it attracted me, because I saw it as an attempt to be men, and I wanted to be a mother. I saw a contradiction in these two goals. Birthrate statistics prove me right.
My very specific age group, those born (and remained in the United States) around the same time I was, had very few children. The 1970's, which should have seen a secondary baby boom, didn't produce many kids. My former fellow Brownies, Girl Scouts and classmates had different production goals.
On the other hand, I could and would never accept even the mildest hint that my opinions are less worthy than a male's. I didn't and still don't consider it Feminism. To me it's just common sense.
- Why should anyone think that men are smarter than women?
- Why should women pretend to be dumber than men?
I'm inevitably attracted by articles which analyze women's success, like this one by Joanne Lipman. "Joanne Lipman, a former deputy managing editor at The Wall Street Journal, was the founding editor in chief of Condé Nast Portfolio magazine." It's interesting that she does have children, and she's unusually successful in what's considered a masculine field. Maybe that's part of the reason for her success.
There are G-d given differences between males and females. The early Feminists preached rejection of it, and that's the cause of so much failure. For women to succeed and reach our goals, we must do it as women, not faux men. We have different biology and different minds. We must utilize our gifts, not imitate men and not hide away our identities in masculine-style clothes and game plans.
Everyone's different. We all must find our own path and wear the most comfortable shoes we can find.
4 comments:
I liked this post.
I would argure that your very approach makes you a feminist...
but you can say it just makes you an egalitarian.
Thanks RivkA, Egalitarian is a new term for me. It became popular when I was busy with other things. Does it mean that I like "equal opportunities?"
I've always loved politics, because I find it fascinating, not for any "male envy." Over the years I got fed up when everyone would ask me my husband's opinion or if I could get him to come to the meetings.
I davka think that wome can be most effective and effiicint when we think and act as women, not faux men.
I agree.
And, yes, by egalitarian, I mean "equal opportunity"
Thanks, RivkA, I guess it gives me the freedom to choose my battles. If that's it, I like it.
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